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Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Today, we lectured and then field tripped. The field trip was only supposed to take a half hour, but it ended up taking three. I had plans than didn't happen!

The field trip was to the RAF Museum, so that was cool. There were a lot of planes.

A V2 missile. It was huge!

A V1 missile

Once I got back, I was going to go with Morgan to get tickets to Dirty Dancing. I hadn't had internet all day, so I didn't know the plans had changed. Since my field trip went so long, Morgan and Clarke were going to Crossfit Thames instead. I ran into them right as they were leaving, but didn't have time to change. I still went and got a shirt!

Monday, July 29, 2013

I thought today was going to be a boring day. Towards the end, it did get pretty awful, but the actual field trip part was really enjoyable. We went to the Royal Artillery Museum. I didn't know what to expect, but the guide was funny. We started with an hour lecture on WWI, which was fascinating because I've never really learnt about WWI. After that, a man in a WWII kit talked to us about a few of the weapons and showed us a heavy gun (a cannon.) We fired a few blanks at the building next door and then the guide showed us the world's oldest cannons and some newer ones.

I didn't really take too many photos, but I got a good one of a big cannon.

A huge cannon

After that, we looked at a medal gallery and then headed downstairs to lunch. I had a tuna salad, some crisps, and a bar. The bar had cashews. Today cemented my fear that I'm allergic to cashews. My throat and mouth got tingly and I felt icky. I dealt with it because we were only half down with the tour.

Next, we headed back to the original room to meet some British soldiers. They showed us a modern kit and some modern guns. We got to hold heavy weapons!

This is a machine gun. I also held an AK-47 and a couple other. I've never held a gun before. #TexanFail

Afterwards, we went back into the exhibit room and got to look around on our own. Most of us (everyone except one kid) ended up just talking to the soldiers and the guides.

That's when it hit me. I don't know if it was just eating crud all weekend in Germany and the cashews were just the icing on the cake or if it was all cashew, but I started feeling awful. The tube ride was not pleasant heading back. We got back to the dorm around 4 and I still haven't gotten up, but I do feel better. For a while, it was at the point where throwing up would have been the best thing my body could have down.

I think I'll go to sleep early tonight. Tomorrow isn't a really long day, but it's still a day and I don't want to be sick.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Guys, I apologize in advance for how incredibly long this post will be. It encompasses three days!

I spent the 26, 27, and the morning of the 28 in Germany with some old friends. Rachel was one of my small group leaders at church back like six years ago. She moved to Germany with her husband and now they have two super cute little girls.

Last week, I messaged her and an hour later, I was booked to go to Germany! Total spur of the moment thing, but in Europe, it's easier to do that kind of stuff.

I ended up leaving the dorms about three hours before my flight. The tube was going to take a bit over an hour, so I wanted plenty of time. Due to a signal failure on literally the last stop before I would get there, the service shut down and I have to catch a train the rest of the way putting me around a half hour behind what I wanted to be.

I finally got there and checking in was no problem, but I needed food. I ended up finding a little cafe place and got a fruit cup and some mousse. I dropped it all, but even though the mousse lid fell off, no yummy hit the ground, so I ate it still.

My plane left Heathrow Terminal 5 (that's important when I start posting the pictures) at midmorning. I landed an hour later.

We ended up getting delayed about a half hour, but it didn't mess the day up too badly.

Terminal 5 is hosting a Doctor Who exhibit right now!

The journey started in Hamburg

Found them!

After meeting up with Rachel and Jessi, we (I, actually. They've both most likely seen it all already) headed off to tour Hamburg. We started off at Starbucks where I had my first White Mocha in months. They don't have heavy whipping cream over here, so I can't get a latte. Figured if I was going bad, might as well go all the way.

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I think this was town hall, or maybe the courthouse

The fountain in the courtyard of the above building

The Hamburg underground. Another city I can add to my list of public transport!

After walking around a bit, we headed to the harbour to take a boat tour. Hamburg has the 2nd biggest port in Europe and the 9th in the world, so the tour showed a lot of the port parts.

A submarine!

Tons of freight ships being unloaded. Some were being unloaded at that moment, so it was cool.

Sometimes they're all full

Hamburg has a Lion King theatre!

After the tour, we had one more stop before dinner. We walked to the old tunnel. To get to the tunnel, we had to take an elevator. Part of it was being worked on, so only one side was open. In the morning, cars go one way. In the evening, they go the other way.

To get below ground, cars take an elevator.

The small tunnel

Two cars can fit in this elevator at once. A lot of people can fit in it.

After the tunnel, we were all starving. Hard Rock Cafe was the place of choice for dinner that night. It was good, as always, and I got a couple shirts.

After Hard Rock, we drove off to where the house where I was staying about 45 minutes away from Hamburg. There, I finally got to see Marc and the girls. The oldest one understands English, but "can't" speak it yet. It was funny because today, when they once again reminded her that I can't speak German and that she had to speak English, she got a puzzled look on her face and exclaimed, in German, that I was answering her correctly, so I had to speak German so she didn't need to speak English. She was just really good at pointing at things.

The next morning, we ate breakfast at Marc's parents house. German breakfast is like our lunch. It was sandwiches! I ended up having a ham and gouda sandwich, with bread. I know, I know, but it's rude to tell people that are kind enough to let a stranger eat their food that you don't eat that kind of food. It hadn't been long enough without the bread to make me sick, but I did sleep the entire drive to Lübeck.

One of the original town gates. It was built in the 1400s.

A viewing platform at St. Peter's church.

The view of the town gate from the viewing platform

The day after Palm Sunday 1942, the British bombed Lubeck. It was WWII, so it was understandable, but these bells fell from the top of St. Mary's Church. Since that day, they've remained in the landing spot. I thought that was really neat.

In St. Mary's church

For some reason, Rachel and Jessi thought no trip to Lübeck was complete without a trip to the Marzipan museum. Marzipan is sugar and almonds. It doesn't sound too good, but it was really neat!

She was making marzipan roses!

Marzipan fruit

After that, we walked back to the car to head to the canoe spot.

I couldn't find the bridge of love in Paris, so I found one in Germany!

I don't know which picture I like more

We canoed from one city to another. It took two hours! There were branches and trees all over! It was exciting, but there were evil bite-y horseflies EVERYWHERE.

After the canoe trip, there was enough time to go take showers before dinner at Marc's parents. I had my first bratwurst! It was great. I hope Opa's has them back home. I also had chicken and turkey. It was weird because everyone was speaking German and I wasn't sure what was going on. I did get ice cream afterwards though.

This place is famous apparently. I can see why.

Vanilla, tiramisu, and After Eight (mint chocolate chip)

After the ice cream, it was time to go to sleep.

The next morning, it was time for church. I can now say I've been to a German church service. A lady sat in the back and translated everything for me, so it was neat.

After church, it was time to head back "home" to London. The flight was pretty empty, so that was nice. They ran out of apple juice, so I drank and OJ, which was a mistake, because now I have bumps on my tongue.

Customs took forever and this lady wouldn't keep her space. Her kid that was strapped to her front kept grabbing at my back, so I started swaying back and forth nudging the kid each time. The girl starts screaming, but the mom kept staying close, so I don't feel too bad.

I was planning on going grocery shopping before church, but the lines at the airport took so long and then I was on the tube forever, that I had to go straight there. Brian Houston preached again, so that was great.

I went to the store on the way back to campus. I'd been craving spicy potato wedges all day, so I was bummed when I saw the hot bar was closed, but ecstatic when I saw the boxed wedges on the heater. I went to pay, and my card didn't work. I went to the ATM, it didn't work. I went to another, and again, it didn't work. I didn't get my potatoes.

Friday, July 26, 2013

The class went to the Museum of London today. They're supposed to have a nice section dedicated to WWII. We got there, walked all the way through and found out it's being remodeled!
It was a nice little museum though.

An old taxi-cab

An old bike

A vespa

Costumes from the Olympic Opening Ceremonies

The mayor's carriage

Beautiful

Loved how the prisoners' graffiti was in serif. This was a prison wall from the 1800s.

After that, I rushed to the O2, because it was night two of Hillsong and it was Louie Giglio and Chris Tomlin and we wanted good seats.

I sat in line for a couple hours until they let us in, and we didn't even have that great seats. They were face on, but high up. The day people got to sit lower.

Our seats

Where the magic happens

It was completely packed

During Louie's message about "No Funerals Today," he fell off the stage. That was pretty exciting. He almost had a funeral today. Later, he was forced to sing God's Great Dance Floor solo. He did pretty great.

As always though, Louie Giglio was fabulous. He might be the only pastor I can listen to for an hour and want to keep listening to.

God's Great Dance Floor!

I'm sorry this is a rubbish post. I forgot last night and went to sleep and I'm about to go catch a tube to go to Germany. I don't have time to make it really good.